Apparatus for inspecting manufactured articles



C. P; ABRAMS 'APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING MANUFACTURED ARTICLES 4 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1943 Even/Z07" Mf 79/261472 -59 V/ EQZ.

14 ZZormeys' I Aug. 6, 1946. i c; P. ABRAMS 2,405,483

APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING MANUFACTURED ARTICLES Filed Oct. 2, 1943 4 Sheets-5heet 2 Patented Aug. 6, 1946 E APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING MANU- FACTURED ARTICLES Cecil P. Abrams, Anoka, Minn. Application October 2, 1943, Serial No. 504,667

9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for automatically inspecting certain manufactured articles. While various kinds of articles may be tested or inspected, the invention particularly deals with articles having a surface which must meet certain requirements. While various types of surfaces may be inspected or tested in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, it is shown as constructed and arranged for testing or inspecting a surface of general cylindrical, conical or spherical form. Specifically the invention is illustrated for testing a cylindrical part such as the metal cup of a shotgun shell.

These shells must meet certain requirements as 1 to the finished structure and it is desirable to inspect the cups and reject the imperfect ones before the cup is assembled with paper cylinders into a shotgun shell. If the metal cup is found to be defective and discarded, much time, labor and expense will be saved over having the defect discovered after the assembly of the article has been made. The inspection is made by means of light and the rejection of imperfect caps accomplished by means of an electric circuit controlled by a photoelectric cell. It has heretofore been proposed to test articles in the above manner but the mechanism for so doing has been very complicated and cumbersome. In some such attempts the article itself has been moved to various stations and rotated while having a stationary beam of light directed thereon. This requires much accurate positioning of the article and excessive mechanism.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and eflicient apparatus for testing or in-JJ specting certain manufactured articles in which the article is held in stationary position while a beam of light is moved along the surface thereof to be tested or inspected.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus in which the article having a surface to be tested is held stationary and a rotatable means for directing light is disposed adjacent said article and light is transmitted by said means to move along said surface together with-ii:

means actuated by a photoelectric cell for rejecting the said article should said light travel over imperfections in said surface so that it would not be reflected therefrom.

It is another object of the invention to provide;

an apparatus for testing an article having a surface to be tested comprising means for causing a beam of light to travelalong said surface, means for directing said article along one path if said means for directing .said article along another path to reject the same should the light be not properly reflected from said surface.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for testing the surface of an article comprising means for moving a beam of light along said surface, said light being reflected from said surface, means for moving said article along one path if said surface is continuous and means actuated by means of the light reflected from said surface for moving said article along the path to reject the same if said beam of light moves over an interruption in said surface.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for inspecting or testing an article and particularly a surface thereof comprising movable means for causing a beam of light to travel along said surface, said light being reflected from said surface to a photoelectric cell and means for moving said article along one path if said light is continuously reflected from said surface and means controlled by said photoelectric cell for moving said article along another path to reject said article if said light is not continuously reflected from said surface due to said beam of light passing over an imperfection in said surface.

It is more specifically an object of the invenon to test or inspect a cylindrical member having an open end and an internal surface of general cylindrical form comprising means for hold ing said article in stationary position, moving means for causing a beam of light to travel along said surface, means for moving said last mentioned means into the open end of said article and into operative position, means for moving said second mentioned means out of said article, means for moving said article in one path if said beam of light is reflected from said surface and means for moving said article in another path-to reject the same if said beam of light is not continuously reflected from said surface.

It is still more specifically an object of the invention to provide such an apparatus as set forth v in the preceding paragraph in which said movmeans actuate light is properly reflected from said surface and i'fili able means for directing said beam of light along said surface is in the form of a rotating mirror rotated by an electric motor and in which said means for directing said article along said other path to reject the same comprises a photoelectric cen, an electrical circuit controlled thereby and d'by operation of said electrical circuit.

These and other objects and advantages of the struction. therein fitting on guide member H and an aid-5.33 justable invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which: 5

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of an apparatus embodying the present invention some parts being shown in different positions in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation as seen from the side opposite that viewed in Fig. l, certain lo parts being indicated in different positions in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a View in front elevation of said :apparatus, certain parts being broken away and others shown in vertical section together with a wiring diagram;

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3' as indicated by the arrows, the same being shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section through said apparatus taken substantially on line 55 of Fig.

2, certain parts being omitted;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 5-45 of Fig. l as indicated by the arrows, certain parts being omitted;

Fig. 7 is a partial view similar to Fig. 6 showing some parts in difierent positions;

Fig. 8 is a View partly in side .elevation and partly in vertical section taken substantially on line 83 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrow, {:30 some parts being omitted and Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 9-4! of Fig. 8 as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings a machine is shown comprising a frame it illustrated as in the form (=35 of a vertically extending channel member having the spaced flanges lilaand said channel member has secured to the front side of its web portion by'a threaded stud Ha, nut lib and washer Hc,

a member H of trapezoidal shape in horizontalcno cross section, the same forming .a guide means for a vertically movable slide l2. Frame member it will be secured to abase I3 of any suitable con- Slide member i2 has a guideway gib M will preferably be disposed be" tween members ll and i2 in order to maintain an accurate fit between said parts. Slide member G2 has forwardly projecting ears or lugs [2a apertured to receive a pivot member H: which also passes through and hasswingingly mounted thereon a projection 16a of a motor frame or casing l6. Projection [5a has a flat outer surface adapted to engage a similar surface on slide member l2 when said member is in operative position. Gas-LL55 ing l6 has mounted therein the usual motor field coils H which will be arranged in circumferential relation and an armature I8 is disposed for rotation within said field coils. Said parts are shown diagrammatically as representing an electrio motor. Armature l8 has secured thereto and extending axially therethrough a tube 25. Said tube is mounted at the tOp and bottom of casing iii in suitable ball bearings 2i and 22. Ball bearings 2! are mounted in casing l6 and b1 5 a flanged collar or cap 23 secured in any suitable manner to the bottom of easing l6 about tube 26 and bearings '22 are carried in a flanged cap 24 which may be secured in any suitable manner as by cap screws 25 to'the top-cover lfib of easing 1 6. m Said cover lab will be secured to casing it by suitable capscrews :26. The lower end of tube 20 is threaded and the'same receives a threaded sleeve 28 having a knurled periphery. Sleeve 28 has a lower inwardly extending flange 28a which fl projects under a cylindrical flange on a member 29, having its upper portion fitted into the lower end of tube 2%. Member 29 has a central cylindrical bore into which fits and is movable a lens holding member 39. A leaf spring 3| is secured to the side of member 29 by headed screw 32 and carries at its lower end a pin 33 adapted to extend transversely through an aperture in member 29.

'Pin has a collar disposed between spring 3| and member 29. Pin 33 is adapted to be received in an aperture in member 39 to hold the same in place in member 29. It will be seen that the lower endof spring 3| and the pin 33 can be easily withdrawn to permit removal or insertion of member 30. Member 30 has a central bore which is enlarged and threaded at its upper end to re- .ceivea threaded sleeve 34. A pair of lenses 36 and 3'? are disposed in sleeve 34, lens 36 being seated against a shoulde formed in the lower end of sleeve 3t, lens 36 being of convexo-convex form and lens 3'! being of plane-concave form, fitting against the upper side of lens 35. Said lenses are held in place in member by a suitable retainer such as a split spring snap ring 38 being disposed above lens 31, Member 30 has projecting downwardly therefrom at opposite sides segmental ortions sea between which extends a small shaft or pin 40 having a portion cut away between portions 35a to form a fiat surface 40a. A mirror or elliptical form, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, is secured with its bottom surface against surface 48a, the same having a pin d3 projecting through member 49, said pin being riveted over a small washer 44 engaging the side of member All. Mirrior 42 is thus firmly secured to the shaft 68.

Slide 12 has secured to one side thereof by suitable screws 45, a bar 41. A plate 48 is secured to bar 41 by headed screws 49, said plate extending transversely at one side of one of flanges lilo. A pair of bars 58 are secured to the side of said flange Hm by screws 5|, which bars are spaced to form a guideway for a slide 52. A headed screw 53 is threaded into slide member .52 and extends through a vertically extending slot 48a in late 5.8. A jam nut is provided on screw 53 and engages plate 48. It will be seen that plate 48 is thus connected to slide 52 and by loosening screw 53 and. nut 54 adjustment can be had between slide 52 and plate 43. Slide 52 at its lower end has secured thereto a cam roller 55 arranged to rotate on a stud of threaded into slide 52. Cam roller ES-is engaged by a cam 51 secured to a shaft 58 journalled in member ii! and extending transversely thereof. Shaft 58 has secured thereto a pulley 59 adapted to be rotated by 7 belt 63 running over another pulley (not shown) and which will be driven by some suitable source of power. With the described construction it will be seen that slide I2 and motor casing 56 together with tube 28 and parts carried thereby will be raised at each revolution of shaft 58. The upper position of said parts is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Shaft 58 also has secured thereto at the other side of the machine, a cam E5 adapted to engage a cam roller 58 journalled on a stud 6! secured in a lever arm 68 pivoted on a stud 59 secured in the side of member H). A torsion spring ll] is coiled about stud 5i! and engages member Iii at one end and has its other end engaging the outer side of lever 68. Spring 1B tends to move cam roller 68 toward cam 65. Lever 68 carries a pin tea arranged to engage the side of member If) and actas a stop. Lever '68 has pivoted thereto at its lower end by pivot bolt H a link 12, the

other end of which is pivoted by a bolt I3 to a bar or rod I4 extending through and projecting from a downwardly extending portion 15a of a slide member I5. The said downwardly extended portion 15a works in a suitable slot in plate 80. Slide member I5 is guided between blocks 1! over which is secured a plate I8 by screws 19 disposed adjacent the corners thereof. Blocks 1'! rest upon a plate 80 supported upon spaced bars or blocks 8| and 82 and secured to base member I3 by headed bolts 83, having washers 84 disposed between the heads thereof and plate 80.

The articles to be inspected or tested such as the cups 90 are fed by gravity down a slide or chute 9!, having a. width substantially equal to the diameter of cups 90. Said chute at its lower end is secured to the top of plate 80 by having screws 92 pass through flanges 9Ia and 9Ib which extend laterally from said chute, said screws being threaded into plate 80. One side of chute 9! is bent at a right angle to form a guiding portion 9! c. It will be noted that one side of block 'I'! is in substantial longitudinal alignment of one side of chute 9!. An angle member 94 is secured to the top of plate 80 by screws 95, the vertical flange of which is parallel to and spaced from guide portion 9! c. The slide I5 moves between portion 9Ic and the vertical flange of angle member 94 substantially midway therebetween and has its end of concave form and adapted to fit against the side of one of the cups 90.

A pair of blocks 98 of substantially cylindrical form are pivoted on stud 99 journalled in plate 80 and said studs have secured to their lower ends beneath said plate respectively links I90 and IOI. Said links have adjacent the ends thereof remote form studs 99 elongated slots IBM and I 0Ia. A pin I03 extends vertically through slots I00a and IOIa, which pin is secured to a horizontally extending bar I04 secured to a downwardly extending portion a of slide '15 by the headed screws I05. Portion 75a extends downwardly through plate 80. Members 98 have secured to one side thereof semi-cylindrical members I06 having flat top portions.

The portion 9 la and the vertical flange of member 94 align respectively with the sides of a chute I08, the upper end portion of which rests upon and is secured to plate 80, said chute I08 extending downwardly in an inclined direction from plate 80. A short distance from plate I 08 said chute is divided to have diverging portions "28a, having their adjacent sides I 08?) meeting in an acute angle. A pivot member H0 is mounted for oscillating movement in the bottom of chute I08 and has secured thereto a plate or gate I I I adapted to swing therewith. Pivot I!!! has secured to its lower end one end of an arm l I2, to the other end of which is secured a rod I l3, which in turn is secured to the core II4a of a solenoid II4 having a winding II4b. Core II4a is provided with a chamber II4c from which an aperture II4d leads into the chamber in which core H412 moves. A valve seat is formed about aperture I Md which seat i engaged by a ball I! 8 which is engaged by a small compression coiled spring II9 which at its other end engages the end of the chamber 40. The small opening I Me leads from chamber II4c through core H411 to the atmosphere or outside the chamber in which core I Ma moves. A very small passage H4) leads from chamber N40 to the chamber within the solenoid in which core I Met moves. One end of a tensile spring I I5 i secured to the end of rod I! 3, the other end of said spring being secured to some suitable 6 stationary support IIIia by means of astaple IlIa.

A member or shell I20 is secured to the top of cap 24 by screws I2! extending through the peripheral flange thereof. A tube I22 has its lower end fitted in and supported in member I20, which tube has a laterally projecting portion I 22a some distance above member I20. A lamp I23 which includes a high candlepower concentrated filament lamp bulb !23a is carried in an oscillatable member I24 forming part of a shell socket I25, through which extends the conductor I26 for lamp I23. A contact member I21 is shown connected to conductor I26 and held in engagement with the tip contact I231) of lamp I23 by a compression coiled spring I28. Member I24 is disposed in a semi-spherical seat formed in a sleeve I 29 threaded into the upper end of a shell I30 secured in the upper end of tube I22 in any suitable manner. Member I24 also engages a semispherical seat formed in a transversely extending plate or washer I3! secured in shell I30. The

lower end of shell I30 is threaded and receives a lens-carrying sleeve I32 threaded therein, in which are disposed lenses I33 and I34, the same being held by a member I35 secured in the lower end of sleeve I32. Lens I34 i convexo-convex and is engaged by the lower side of upper lens I 39 which is concave and the upper side of which is flat. A shell I38 is secured in tube I22 below member I35 and carries a member I39 which extends diagonally and traverses the opening into projection I 22a. Member I39 is of transparent material such as glass and has its lower surface lightly silvered or otherwise constructed to form. a mirror. Said member I39 however is arranged for the passage of light therethrough. The pro- J'ection I22a has secured therein a tube I40 in which is carried a socket I4I adapted to receive a photo electric cell I42. While cell I42 can be of any photo emissive type it may be either gasfilled or of the vacuum type. In practice an R. C. A. 924 photo cell has been found very satisfactory for the purpose. The line conductors are shown a I44 and I45. Conductors I46 and I4! extend from the line conductors respectively to the terminal leads I I6 and I I! of the motor having armature I8. A switch I is provided for controlling the motor circuit. A conductor I49 extends from line conductor I44 to the primary of a transformer I50-and a conductor I5! extends from the other end of said primaryto the other line conductor I45. A switch I52 is disposed in conductor I5! for controlling lamp I 23. A c0nductor I53 extends from the secondary of transformer I59 to the live or filament side of lamp I23 and the other side of said lamp and the other end of the said secondary are shown as grounded. A conductor I extends from line conductor I45 to one end of the winding H41) of solenoid H4.

A switch I54 is disposed in conductor I55 for controlling the circuit thereof. Conductor I55 is also connected by another conductor I 50 to one of the power supply terminals of a suitable electronic amplifier which may involve one or more vacuum tube amplifier stages of the conventional variety. Another conductor I 58' extends from line conductor I44 to the stationary contact Ifiiia of a relay !90. Another conductor Ifil'extends from the armature I50b of relay I60 to the other end of the winding II4b of solenoid H4. A conductor I62 also extends from conductor I59 to the other power supply terminal of amplifier I57. Conductor I 83 extend from photo electric cell I 42 to a signal voltageinput terminal of theamplifler roller I51. A conductor I65 extends from a signal output terminal of amplifier I51 to one end of the winding of relay I60. Another conductor I55 e tends from the other end of the winding of relay 55 to one terminal I61a of a switch I61. A conductor I68 extends from the other signal output terminal of amplifier I51 to a contact I611) of switch I61. Contacts It'la and I6'Ib are adapted to be connected by a pole or contact I610 of a switch I61. Switch I61 is disposed in a switch boX I10 mounted on a bracket I1I connected to the front side of slide II by screw I12. The contact I610 is carried by an adjustable threaded me her or screw I13 mounted in a bracket I14 secured to the front side of slide I2 by one or more screws I15. Member I13 is provided with a lock or ad justing nut I15 which engages the top of bracket I14.

The operation of the novel method and the described apparatus is as follows:

The cups 50 which are to form the end of shotgun shells are fed into the chute ill in any suitable manner and slide down said chute by gravity. The specific surface to be tested is the frusto conical surface 95s at the in er side of the cup at its open end. Pulley 59 will be driven as described, thus rotating haft 58 and operating cam 65. As the high side of cam 65 engages cam r-oll or 65, lever 68 is swung to the right as shown in Fig. 1 substantially to the dotted line position and this moves slide I5 to the right as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Slide 15 moves far enough to the right as shown in Fig. 6 so that the lowermost cup 90 in chute QI moves in front of slide 15, said cup sliding down until it is stopped against the vertical flange of member 94. At this time cam 51 has been rotated to bring its high side against cam thus raising slide 52 and with it slide I2 and motor casing It with the parts carried thereby. As previously indicated, by manipula-.

tion of screw 53 and nut 54 the points between which plate 48 and slide I2 will rise and fall under the action of cam 51 can be adjusted. Portion 39a and mirror 42 can thus be accurately positioned.

The lower end of portion 30a. and mirror 62 are L thus raised above the top plane or edge of cup Bil so that said cup can slide under portion 300.. It will be understood that switch I48 will be closed so that motor armature I8 will be rotated.

Switch I52 will also be closed, thus illuminating lamp I23, and switch I54 will be closed thus putting in operation the circuits of amplifying tube I51. It will be understood that switches I48, I52 and I54 are manually operated. On further revolution of shaft 58 slide I5 is moved to the left as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 and the cup 90 which has moved in front of the slide, is moved to the left and into engagement with members I05 as illustrated in Fig. 6. The cup is now axially aligned with tube and tube I22 as shown in Fig. 5. Cam 53 now moves so that its lower side is in engagement with cam roller 51. and tube 20 and parts carried thereby are lowered. Portion a and mirror 42 are thus lowered to the position shown in Fig. 8. As the motor armature I8 is rotated member 311 and mirror 42 are being rotated. The light from lamp I23 passes through V lenses I33 and I34 which direct it longitudinally through tube 20 and focus itsufiiciently so that a beam of light is directed onto mirror 42 as shown by arrows I80 in Figs. 5 and 8. This light must pass through the member I39 and owing to the said member being constructed as a mirror, some of the light will be absorbed by member I39. Some of the light will also probably be reflected .8 from the upper surface of member I39 as indicated by arrow I19. However ample light passes through member I39 for the desired purpose. The beam of light passes downwardly and is reflected from mirror 42 as indicated by line I8! in Fig. 8 so that it is directed against the surface a. Since mirror 42 is rotating the beam of light is caused to travel around surface 96a throughout its whole extent. The beam will be of sufiicient scope to cover the width of surface 90a. The light directed on surface 90a is reflected from said surface as indicated by line I82 in Fig. 8 and again strikes mirror 42 and is reflected upwardly longitudinally of tube 20 as indicated by the arrows I83 in Figs. 5 and 8. This reflected light passing upwardly in tube 20 strikes the mirror under surface of member I39 and is reflected so as to pass longitudinally of tube I40 as indicated by the arrows I84. This reflected light transmitted from the mirror surface of member I39 is directed onto photoelectric cell I 52. Photoelectric cell I42 is thus actuated and through its conductor I63 effects a bias on tube I51 and when the tube is so biased no current will flow in conductors I65 and I68. It may be stated that when mirror 42 was lowered to position within th cup, member I13 was lowered and switch It! closed. The circuit from amplifier I 5'l through switch I61 and relay IE0 is therefore closed. As described however no current flows in this circuit as long as the light is being reflected from surface 90a and the reflected light is directed on photoelectric cell I42. Should there be some imperfection in surface 90a so that the light is not reflected therefrom back to mirror 42, there would be an absence or cessation of the reflected light and this would effect cell I42 so that it no longer would bias amplifier I51 and current would begin to flow in the circuit of relay I60. When this happens relay I60 is energized and armature Itllb is moved into engagement with contact IGlla. This closesthe circuit through solenoid H4 and th core Ilc is drawn into said solenoid moving to the left as shown in Fig. 3, swinging arm I I2 and the plate or gate II I so that the latter swings to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. Normally if the surface 00a is continuous and perfect the-cup would be directed so as to move into chute I08 and through the portion I08a thereof at the left of Fig. 3. When gate III is swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 the cup will be directed through the portion I08a of chute I08 at the right in Fig. 3 and will thus be rejected. After the mirror 42 has made the required number of revolutions it is again raised by operation of cam 51, slide 15 is again moved to the right and another cup is engaged and moved into axial alignment with tube 20. This cup will engage the cup previously acted upon and the latter will be pushed toward chute I08. As stated the cups are positioned against members I06. Each time slide 15 moves to the right it also moves bar I04 to the right and through the links 99 and I00 turns blocks or members 98 about their axis or pivots 99. Said members 90 are moved to the position shown in Fig. 7 and it will be seen that the members I05 are then moved with their fiat sides respectively parallel and parallel with the movement of bar I05; In this position the cup 9%! which is engaged by the cup next to be acted upon can be moved between members I 06 and into chute I38. In order that gate II will be held in position a sufficient period .to discard or recore IHIq, has been provided. When solenoid H4 is deenergized, which occurs when mirror 42 is lifted and member I13 moves upward 'to'open switch "51, core I la would be immediately moved to the right in Fig. 3 by spring 5a. However due to the ball valve H8 which acts as a check valve, core 4a is given a dash-pot action and movesslowly to the right under action of spring H5. Core I I la, can only move as air is permitted to pass into its chamber through passage 4f. Gate II I is thus held in the dotted line position shownfor the proper period to direct the imperfect cup into the portion I 08a of chute I08 at the right in Fig. 3. The operation of the machin is thus continuous'and the cups are continuously and rapidly fed into position, inspected or tested and the imperfect cups rejected.

Motor casing I6 and parts carried thereby can be swung upward to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a novel and comparatively simple and very efiicient apparatus for examining or inspecting manufactured parts for detection, imperfections or defects. The articles are progressecl to and through the machine very rapidly and the articles having imperfections are rejected and directed into a separate receptacle from those which are perfect. By moving the beam of light along the surface it is possible to have a comparatively simple apparatus. The machine operates automatically and needs very little attention by an operator. The apparatus has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efiicient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

The term mirror is herein used in a broad and liberal sense to cover any deflecting or wavebending devices capable f performing the functions of the mirrors of the apparatus described.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for testing a surface on an article having in combination, means for positioning an article having an annular surface, a source of light, a rotatable mirror for receiving said light from said source and directing it to travel along said surface, said light being reflected from said surface back to said mirror, power means for rotating the mirror, means for receiving said reflected light and transmitting it in a certain direction, and means controlled by said reflected light for moving said article in a certain path if said surface is interrupted so that no light is reflected from said mirror.

2. An apparatus for testing a surface on an article having in combination, means for positioning an article having an annular surface, a source of light, power rotated means for receiving said light from said source and directing the same to causeit to travel around said annular surface, said means being constructed and arranged to receive light reflected from said surface and reflect the same, means for receiving said reflected light and directing it in a certain path, and means located in said path and controlled by said reflected light to direct said article in a certain path if said surface is interrupted so that no light is reflected.

- 3. An apparatus for testing a surface on an articleihaving in'combination, means for positioning'an article having an open-ended annular surface to be tested, a source of light, a rotatable mirrorifor receiving said light from said source and directing it to travel along said surface, said light being reflected from said surface back to said mirror, means for lifting and lowering said mirror, means for. positioning said article with the axis of said annular surface substantially aligned withthe axis of rotation of said 'mirror while said mirror is lifted, said mirror being lowered into said article, means for rotating, said mirror to cause a beam of light to be directed on and travel around said surface, said light being reflectedfrom said surface, and means controlled by said reflected light for moving said article along a certain path.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 and means for varying the vertical position of said mirror when lifted and lowered.

5. An apparatus for testing a surface on an article having in combination, means for positioning an article having a surface to be tested, a lamp, a power rotated mirror for receiving light from said lamp and reflecting it to cause it to travel along said surface, said light being reflected from said surface back to said mirror and again reflected toward said lamp, means for receiving said reflected light from said mirror and directing it transversely to the path from said lamp to said mirror, a light-sensitive means on which said reflected light is directed, an electrical circuit controlled by said last mentioned means, and means controlled by said circuit for determining the path of said article if no reflected light is directed on said light-sensitive means.

6. An apparatus for testing a surface on an article having in combination, a motor, a member extending axially of said motor, rotated therewith and having a passage therethrough, a lamp adjacent one end of said passage, a power rotated mirror carried by and rotated with said member at one end thereof and having its surface inclined to the longitudinal axis of said passage, means for positioning an article having an annular surface with the axis of said surface substantially aligned with, the axis of rotation of said member, means for disposing said mirror in position to reflect light from said lamp onto said surface to cause it to travel along said surface, said light being reflected from said surface back to said mirror and from said mirror along said passage, means between said mirror and lamp for reflecting said reflected light transversely of said passage, a light-sensitive means onto which said reflected light is directed by said last mentioned means, and means controlled by said light-sensitive means for determining the subsequent path of said article.

7. An apparatus for testing a surface on an article having in combination, amotor rotatable about a vertical axis, a tube extending axially of said motor, a power rotated mirror at the lower end of said tube having an inclined surface, said tube and mirror being rotated by said motor, a lamp disposed to direct a beam of light axially of said tube, means for feeding an article having an annular surface into position vertically aligned with said mirror, said mirror causing the beam of light from said lamp to be reflected onto and to travel around said surface, said light being reflected from said surface back to said mirror and from said mirror upwardly in said tube, a second mirror in said tube between said lamp and altars-s first mentioned mirror for receiving said reflected light and directing it transversely of said tube, a light-sensitive means on which said reflected light is directed, and means controlled by said light-sensitive means for determining the subsequent path of said article.

8. An apparatus for testing a surface on an article having in combination, a chute down which articles are fed, said articles having an annular surface to be tested, a reciprocating member adapted to engage said articles and respectively move the same, a pair of spaced stops against which article is positioned by said memher, power rotated means for directing a beam of light upon and causing itjto travel around said surface, and means for moving said stops to permit said articles to pass therebetween when moved by said reciprocating member.

9. An apparatus for testing a 'surfaceon an article having in combination, a lamp, a rotatable mirror, means for raising andlowering said mirror, means operated in synchronism with said means for feeding an open-ended article having a surface to be tested into alignment with the axis ofrotation of said mirror so that said mirror may be lowered into said article, means for Totating said mirror to cause a beam of light from said lamp to be reflected onto'and to travel around said surface, said light beingreflected from said surface to said mirror and reflected from said mirror, and means controlled by said reflected light for determining the path of said article when said mirror is. again lifted. 

